Fire officials say house was popular place for homeless people looking for warmth

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Updated: 12:32 PM CST Jan 14, 2018

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WEBVTT FIREFIGHTERS CONTINUE TO DIGTHROUGH THE RUBBLE AFTER THEFIRE DESTROYED THE HOME.THIS CALL FIRST CAME IN AROUND4:30 THIS MORNING AFTERNEIGHBORS SAW THESE MASSIVEFLAMES.JOHN?REPORTER: THEY ARE TRYING TOFIGURE OUT HOW IT STARTED.SADLY WE KNOW THAT THREE PEOPLEHAVE DIED.REPORTER: A CLEANUP ANDEXPANSIVE SEARCH OPERATIONEXPANDING MULTIPLE HOURS WEST OFDOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY EARLIERTODAY.FIRE CREWS RECOVERING THREEBODIES FROM THE DEBRIS.>> HOUSE BURNED SO BADLY.IT COLLAPSED IN ON ITSELF.THE OKLAHOMA CITY FIREDEPARTMENT SAY THEY FIRST GOT ACALL AROUND 4:30 THIS MORNING TOTHE HOUSE IN BLOCK WELL.WHEN THEY GOT ON THE KEEN, THISIS WHAT THEY SAW.MASSIVE FLAMES POURING OUT INALL DIRECTIONS.IT IS EVEN CAUGHT A NEIGHBORINGHOUSE ON FIRE AS WELL.FIREFIGHTERS SAY, THE ABANDONEDHOUSE WAS POPULAR PLACE FOR THEMTOLESS WHO WOULD BREAK IN TOSTAY WARM.BECAUSE OF THAT.INVESTIGATORS HAD A HARD TIMEDETERMINING HOW MANY PEOPLE WEREINSIDE.NEW THIS MORNING, AROUND 11:30THEY DISCOVERED ONE VICTIM.>> A FEW HOURS LATER, THEY FOUNDTWO MORE.THE MAN AND A WOMAN.>> IN MY HEART, I FELT REALLYBAD.>> DIE NANCE HOMELESS HERSELF.SHE SAYS SHE STAYED AT THE HOMEIN THE PAST.>> I DID KNOW THEM FOLKS.I PRAY THEIR FAMILY WILL FINDPEACE IN THEIR HEARTREPORTER: THE FIRE DEPARTMENTHAS NOT RELEASE THE NAMES OF THE

3 die in fire at abandoned home near downtown Oklahoma City

Fire officials say house was popular place for homeless people looking for warmth

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"The house burned so that it kind of just collapsed in on itself," Battalion Chief Jim Williams said.

Fire officials said they first got a call around 4:30 a.m. Saturday and found massive flames pouring out of the home in all directions. The blaze also caused a neighboring home to catch fire.

Authorities said the house is abandoned and is a popular place for homeless people, who would break in to stay warm. Because of that, investigators had a hard time determining how many people were inside.

Around 11:30 a.m., firefighters found the first victim. A few hours later, they found two more -- a man and a woman.

Dianna Mullikin, who also is homeless, said she's stayed at the home in the past.

"In my heart, I feel really bad," Mullikin said. "I did know them folks, and I pray that their families find peace in their heart."

Investigators have not released the names of the three people who died.